Yuletime lunch

Farley Mount on 25th December 2005 after a circular walk to Sparsholt and back. Caramelised Swede soup and ciabatta. Then home to put the goose on.

Cake of the day

Is Wartime Chocolate Cake. Wartime? Yep Second World War - this was a recipe for chocolate cake in the days of rationing as it has no egg in it. Although I wonder how easy the chocolate for the optional fudge icing would have been to get hold of.

Why the sudden interest in baking.....its a Christmas secret.... 

Christmas Preparations

After a weekend feeling bleurgh, I have whipped up these little numbers. Whilst they might look good on the tree that I will eventually get round to buying, they are intended to adorn the many parcels that I will be wrapping for my nephew and nieces. First they can be used as gift tags and then they can hang them on the tree when they are a little older (should they desire)

These little stockings are for the older kiddies and I will be filling them with assorted bits and bobs which they should like. I was very tempted by the toy harmonicas in the Early Learning Centre but reasoned that their parents are perfectly capable of a suitable revenge....

Walking

After a day of eating - a day of walking. As my parents live nearly on top of the North Downs Way, Mr.H and I planned on taking a walk. For me, this was one of the first since our South Downs Way trek in September. We found a suitable one on this site, which, combined with walking out from my parents and back would give us a easily manageable 8 miles.

It started sunny, got rainy around midday but by the time we reached the pub it was sunny again. At one point we were literally ankle deep in mud, but it was good to get out, stretch the legs and breath in lots of fresh air. Took this snap as sunlight through leafy trees makes me feel happy and I was happy on this walk.

Took this next snap as the mixture of the copper leaves with the glossy green ivy trailing over it reminded me of a lush fabric. Nature really does things best....

Birthday

It was my birthday on the 2nd and it started auspiciously with no hot water. Arranged for the "gasman" to come round early next week, had a quick cold shower and then decided I needed spoiling with blueberry pancakes and maple syrup with a spoon of mascarpone on top. Yum.
Mr. Happy had the day off too so we left the house early to catch an exhibition I wanted to see before going for lunch at my sisters. This was 21:21 at the University of the Creative Arts at 'a load of colleges scattered about Kent and Surrey' displaying the textiles of Keiko Sudo and the Nuno Coporation. The gallery space was filled with tall columns of textiles (a forest)with samples to touch (and fondle!) at the side. We were not permitted to touch the columns (of course) but it was so tempting to dive underneath the bottom of some them and stand inside and be surrounded by the fabric. My favorite textile, which I found most inspriational (considering the ever-looming C&G wallhanging) was entitled "tanabata" it had been constructed by using origami techniques and slashing with a hot knife - oooh tempting to try at home! Normally, Mr. Happy would not be dragged to this kind of thing by wild horses but as it was my birthday he was prepared to be amenable.
We then drove on to my sister's nearby where she gave us lunch (butternut squash risotto - yummy) and some lovely presents (including a book on 3 Dimensional embroidery - beautiful and v.handy). Afterwards we tootled over to my parents in Kent who took us out for a slap up Curry at the local Tandori House. (lots more yum).
So apart from the early hot waterless experience a very good day indeed!

Shoe Kit

Now I can make more shoes for myself. After I have Christmas and my college wallhanging to get done maybe .......

Little Treats

Thought I would show you a couple of sewing projects I "treated" myself with recently. Unfortunately, this means I have a large belly of college work to "exercise" off!

First up is this Fusen box which I made from a kit that I bought at the Knitting and Stitching show. The stall was one specialising in imported Japanese fabric for quiliting. I particularly like the ball ended zip that came with this kit. The zip was sewn in first and then I just had to fold and then sew the ends. After turning the box right side out I encouraged it to take shape by stuffing it with 20 CDs. Easy!

Second treat is this little pincushion box - another goody from Kokoro Te Noro by Kumiko Sudo. Fabric used is more of the Liberty Tana Lawn and some random rose fabric offcut that I seem to remember I once made a very bad, ill fitting top from. Its much better as a pincushion, methinks.

Tucking

These tucked & pleated samples are also for my College texture work. The top right sample made use of the pin tuck foot I bought for my machine. The bottom right sample is a crossed over pleat idea which I got from a book by Jennie Rayment. The bottom left sample was a fun random one I did by randomly folding and then stitching using my zipper foot. The other samples were all the same method - pleats and then stitched down in alternate directions.

Still have my ruching to finish and some cathedral window patchwork to do. (As well as a tonne of other stuff, Mr Happy is doing some cooking this week....) 

Texture and Quilting

These are the quilting samples that I have recently completed for college and my texture design work. I think I can confess: I am a BAD quilter. The samples are, clockwise from top left: trapunto (should have been better stabilised), vermicelli, tied, English. I had more fun printing the fabrics using my heaty-foamy block thingy: heated over my toaster, pressed into tread plate/pebbles/Mr Happy's wooden dice box. Then print using some scrummy iridiscent Sennelier fabric paints. There is something irresistible about a paint that is called "burnt toast"! 

Smocking

Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

This took several days to gather by hand and only a few hours to stitch. This is part of a range of samples that I am stitching for my texture design work. I am playing with a natural colour palette. More samples as soon as I am reunited with my usb cable. Unfortunately my bluetooth connection is failing somewhere (grrrrr Nokia an Windoze) and I am not made of the pots of cash that Orange demand for all the uploading of photos I need to do.

Truancy

Not a lot of finished college samples. But I do have this little cherry booklet from the latest book by Kumiko Sudo : Kokoro no Te. Convincing myself that this was a necessity as my other needle book was too small for all the different needles I use. This was made from fabric and felt scraps, the main one is Liberty Tana Lawn. Of course the Japanese thimble and Heian Pin-Pin sewing case I am working on are necessary as well.....

New shoes!

Not any new shoes though. My new shoes, which I made. I have spent a very enjoyable, but exhausting weekend making these lovely shoes in at The Little Shoe Workshop in New Malden, Surrey. I was a feeling a bit uptight on Friday thinking I should have got together some stitching or outstanding fabric to make my shoes from. Mark told me to chill out, go to the pub, and just enjoy myself at the workshop. Next day, when I got to the workshop there was plenty of choice from the lovely selection of leather and fabric offcuts. The kitten heels of these little beauties are red to match the uppers. The insole binding is a beautiful bright blue suede with a turquoise and red suede layered inner sock. On the Saturday we spent the time cutting out our pattern pieces, glueing and stitching out components. Today we spent the time lasting the shoes and finishing the shoes. The most difficult bit was hammering the nails into the heel. I had a go but, like everyone else got Kirsty the workshop owner, to put the nails in - it requires a certain knack. If I was doing this at home I would either ask Mark to do this (he's got the 'welly') or drill and screw the heels.

I have ordered a home kit which will allow me to make more shoes similar to this. Guess it's time to start planning those embroidered uppers.

Knitting and Stitching Show

No excuses for being so quiet. Have just been doing a few things after attending the Knitting and Stitching Show in London. Didn't take a sketch book with me so took a few notes and then created a little memory book.

I resisted all the goody stalls when I first got there and visited the exhibits. One of my favourites was "Inspired to Stitch: 21 artists". This was publicising the book by Diana Springall of the same name.



The Graduate show case was, as usual, very inspiring and I was particularly taken by the manipulated textiles that two grads. were showing: textured corsets from one student and manipulated dyed silks of another. As an auntie who spends some of her time playing truant from college work and making stuff for her nephews and neices I admired the ladybird decorated clothing, crazy patchwork bootees and textile embellished story books.

I wandered out of the textile gallery and into another room (not the main hall) and found The Braidmakers workshop. There I was given a demonstration on the history and use of the lucet fork. Apparently this another way of making 2 stitch i-cord. Having a some knitting already on the go and a certain amount of college work mounting up - I resisted....


As there was not a huge amount of seating and it was getting a bit hot in the exhibition I was glad I had booked an hours mini-workshop session on Japanese Stencilling. We were given the workshop in a backroom which, though not glamorous or smart, had chairs, cool air and peace and quiet! Vivien Prideaux, who gave the workshop, packed the hour with plenty of anecdotes, tips, advice and knowledge. It is a shame it only lasted an hour - would be great to have a longer session with her on textiles. It was also the first time I had ever done any indigo dyeing. It, of course, was dead easy - Vivien had prepared the dye vat ahead of time!

Of course I wouldn't forget the SHOPPING! Mainly concentrated on making sure I had a few of the bits and pieces I need for college, for example, silk organza, xpandaprint, designing pattern sheets book and dyed merino felt tops for felt. Treats included getting bamboo knitting needles in a few sizes I hadn't got yet. Major treat of the show was getting hold of an advance copy of this book which was one of the vendors sample copy. Needless to say this is one of the reasons why I haven't been uploading lately (pictures of the results to follow).

Apologies about the funny images I have uploaded. I wasn't anywhere near a scanner so used my trusty camera phone. My little book was made out of one sheet of A4 paper by following the instructions from one of my favourite creativity books "Living Out Loud" by Keri Smith the instructions are also available from her website.

Anne Needs

I know everyone is doing this but I couldn't resist. Just typed "Anne needs" into Google and this is what came up:

Anne needs a Job
Anne needs a group of at least 6 people
Anne needs this yesterday
Anne needs to locate a Support Request quickly
Anne needs to provide the current working draft
Anne needs to report on progress
Anne needs a room
Anne needs love
Anne needs someone who will love her, really love her
Anne needs to teach an acting class
Anne needs some luck right now
Anne needs to do more than catch her breath
Anne needs Help!!!

Hmm, maybe, anyways she needs to stop mucking about with her blog and do something constructive!

Full of crafty goodness

Finally rustled myself up this tote bag to carry around a few crafty bits and pieces. Mainly for transporting my current knitting or stitching project to work for a little lunch time creativity. I used some fabric I found in my fabric stash ( it was previously in my Grandma's). I also created a little kitty+stitch label from computer paper and a white fabric scrap. Didn't take much more than an hour (if that) to sew together. 

Saved from the rag bag

Saving the glue-pot accident jeans. Completed this whilst on leave, wearing them for the first time today. Originally was going to do some free machine embroidery but despite the use of tear-away stabiliser it kept on runkling up and the thread kept on snapping. Happier with this hand applique felt circles. Not sure how well they will wash but any failure on that front will be a lesson learnt and a new opportunity to embelish my jeans again. Will try not to take 4 months to get around to doing it though....

New Arrivals

My sister has had her twins - everyone safe and sound! I have knitted up these two little cardigans for the new arrivals. How did I know they were going to be a boy and a girl? I didn't - the pile of other little cardigans is just out of shot...........

Back

Finally finished the walking the South Downs Way - soon this blog is going to return to stitching craft geek stuff. I could send a picture of my beautiful ugly feet - I treated myself to a pedicure - so I now have nice smooth feet, painted toenails and weepy blisters....

I think I'll just leave you with a nice mental picture.

Finished

Last few metres

Eastbourne within our sights

The Beachy Head Lighthouse

BelleTout Lighthouse

Walking the Seven Sisters - roller coaster walking.

Leaving Alfriston....

Sunday

Our Penultimate day on the way. This is the approach to Alfristion. Nice short day.

Rodmell

Rodmell
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

Got to Rodmell in good time to catch the last open hour of The Monk House where Virginia Wolfe lived with her husband Leonard before her suicide in 1941. This a view of the house from the garden.

Saturday morning

Saturday morning
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

And the view has improved for the walk to Rodmell

The stunning views from......

The stunning views from......

Steyning Bowl, Truleigh Hill, Devil's Dyke and Ditchling Beacon. Now in The Bull, Ditchling eating fish & chips, drinking Summer Lightening, after a 15 mile walk.

Thursday

Thursday
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

Beautiful view of Chanctonbury Ring. Unfortunately my feet are less so, rather manky in fact.

Look - no beard!

Look - no beard!

You don't want to know what I did to get him to do this...

Wednesday

Wednesday

Symbolic rather than Scenic picture today - the halfway mark!

Tuesday

Tuesday

We had an exciting day today: giant chalk balls, I fell over and M had a skid problem.

Monday

Now known as Turtle Hill. In the distance the white speck is where we spent last night. Blisters: loads, 1000 mile socks failed me.

The Beginning

The Beginning
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

We set off this morning from Winchester at 9am thanks to P & G getting up early for the Farmers Market. Currently halfway to East Meon at The Millburys, refuelling & refreshing for the afternoon ahead. Blisters 1.

Mr Happy

Mr Happy
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

On a Sunday afternoon walk. He wasn't miserable - just snapped him in a funny few seconds. This was our last weekend walk before our holiday next week - walking the South Downs Way. So this blog will become more Kitty + Trek or Kitty + Sore Feet

Back to School

College starts again tonight. I have been prep'ing by playing with some texture. One the exercises I have been working on is manipulating with paper: weaving, ripping and curling, pleating and well...erm holepunching and gluing. I love it when I need to get my glue stick out!

I'm not that evil really

You Are Somewhat Machiavellian

You're not going to mow over everyone to get ahead... But you're also powerful enough to make things happen for yourself. You understand how the world works, even when it's an ugly place. You just don't get ugly yourself - unless you have to!

How Machiavellian Are You?

Monday

Monday
Originally uploaded by Anne Redwood.

Back at work after a weekend of gardening & needlepoint. Pictured is my first green tea of the week in the cup I painted on Gin's hen weekend last April.

Applique for a wall hanging

I have completed a little simple machine applique of 3 panels to make into a wall hanging for my niece. Each panel will be sewn on the backing as a pocket. The colour choice is pink and the theme fairies. The first one I did I used the colouring of my niece:

Sophie Fairy

Then I decided to change the hair and colouring to that of her Mummy:

Mummy Fairy

Then I decided that to complete the Trio I really needed the next generation up:

Grandma Fairy

The Grandma Fairy even has her own string of pearls!

Found that I got more even results by using tearaway stabiliser. Surprisingly never used this product before but very handy. Even handier are the applique scissors I got from barnyarns and were used on the Carrickmacross attempt shown in previous post. The scissors helped in the reverse applique technique used for the fairy wings.